That Film - Requiem for a Dream
8:15 AM
Main Point,
Mise-en-scene
Not many locations were used to shot this movie, because of the brilliant use of camera shots and storyline, the main point of the movie is to show the daily life of the characters, which is where most drug dealers have been to. Thus, not much location is needed. Furthermore, the focus of the movie is more to the process and the outcome of the drug users, they often stay in one location to hide from the police.
The setting of the locations is mostly dark or blurred, not like typical American films that use a large amount of lighting, this helps to strengthen the audience’s feeling of anxiety, make them feel like life is very blurred and dark as a drug addict.
Mise-en-shot
There are multiple shots used in this film that is quite different from other films, shots like bird's-eye view and low angle. A split-screen shot is used to emphasize each the character's emotions and the relationship between each of them. The majority of those shots are close-up or three-quarter shot, to mainly focus on the character's emotion.
There are a number of shots that were edited with a fast and rushing pace, for example when the character was taking the drugs, it quickly rush through a few clips of the process, from taking pills, rolling up the dollar bill, boiling drugs and then the change of pupil size, it directly shows the audience that they are getting high in the movie. these shots were also overlapped into the shots that they old lady were roasting coffee and pouring coffee beans into the machine, giving the message that they happened at the same time. There is also the use of time-lapse, which the old lady cleans her house as the clock is turning faster and faster, also showing that she stares at the television for a long period, giving a message that she is desperately waiting for what she wanted to see on the television.
The use of montages it very efficient, it cleverly shows the audience their journey throughout the whole stages of drug addiction. Same montages are used continuously and more frequently in the film to emphasize the increase in the need of drugs. The speed of the repetition brings the audience a feeling of no turning bad kind of irritation, also the feeling of anxiety in the character’s drug addiction.
The use of mise-en-scene and mise-en-shot in this movie is remarkable and had a unique approach that sets a standard for other films in this genre. I really like how the message was sent by the movie to the audience, showing how drug addicts were living their lives and how dangerous these things brings to mankind.
"Picture speaks louder than words."
Verdict, will I recommend watching it?
Yes, I know this is an old movie, but it's on my list now together with the movie Forrest Gump. I don't usually get into movies like these because there is too much drama, but I can see why people rate it as a good movie, the movie sucks the audience into their lives, we will feel like we are in that movie.
"Obsession kill lives."
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